Bone marrow recipients fare well as outpatients

A recent study shows substantial length of stay reductions when bone marrow transplant patients are managed briefly as inpatients, then transferred to structured outpatient care. A shift from complete inpatient care to inpatient/outpatient care decreases hospital charges without negatively affecting mortality, complications, or disability terms. In the study, the inpatient/outpatient group had an average hospital stay of 19.1 days, compared with 44.7 days stayed by the inpatient group. Mean inpatient facility charges were nearly $67,000 less per inpatient/outpatient. The study was presented at the American Society of Hematology in San Diego in December.